Analysts were vindicated after expecting unemployment to fall from 5.7% in January.

Employment hit a new record proportion again too: 73.4% of people aged 16-64 were in work in February, the highest share since records began in 1971.

Average weekly earnings rose 1.7% in nominal terms, just slightly lower than the 1.8% that was expected.

Wage growth generally has been extremely weak in recent years, struggling to keep up with inflation. However, with oil prices plunging recently, the consumer price index is no longer rising, and the UK is seeing real wage growth.